The Latest: Keillor pushes back against expanded allegations

Former radio host Garrison Keillor is pushing back against new details of sexual harassment allegations against him

MINNEAPOLIS — The Latest on a Minnesota Public Radio statement giving new details of allegations of sexual harassment against former radio host Garrison Keillor (all times local):

10:30 p.m.

Former radio host Garrison Keillor is pushing back against new details of sexual harassment allegations against him.

Minnesota Public Radio said in a statement Tuesday that Keillor was accused by a woman who worked on his "A Prairie Home Companion" show of dozens of sexually inappropriate incidents over several years. MPR said the allegations included requests by Keillor for sexual contact and explicit sexual communications and touching.

Keillor said after MPR severed its relationship with him in November that he had merely touched a woman's bare back accidentally while trying to console her. MPR said it released new details Tuesday in part because media organizations were preparing to publish their own stories about Keillor's behavior.

Keillor didn't respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. He told the Star Tribune that MPR listeners were angry over his dismissal because they "smelled a rat." He says they know him better than MPR management, "and they know I'm not abusive."

He says the woman's complaint is "a highly selective and imaginative piece of work" drawn up by her attorney.

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3:52 p.m.

Minnesota Public Radio is providing additional detail of allegations of sexual harassment against humorist Garrison Keillor.

MPR says Keillor was accused by one woman of dozens of sexually inappropriate incidents over several years, including requests for sexual contact and explicit sexual communications and touching. MPR says the woman detailed the allegations in a 12-page letter that included excerpts of emails and written messages.

The MPR statement disputes Keillor's assertion in November that MPR terminated its relationship with him over a single incident in which he touched a woman's bare back.

Keillor did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. He has said in recent weeks he was in negotiations with MPR over separating the two sides' business interests.